F4H-1F: The First, Forgotten Flying Phantom

Would like to see this plane in-game?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters

Overview

The F4H-1F (later redesignated F-4A) was the first production variant of the Phantom. It would never truly enter service, with the 45 planes of the A-variant produced being used as trainers, test aircraft and in the familiarisation role for the U.S. Navy and its pilots. It served the USN’s VF-101 and VF-121 squadrons (and apparently VX-5 too, as evidenced by photos) from late 1960 up until 1974, with most struck off between the late 60s and early 70s.

The F-4A can be split into 2 main variants, one with the An/APQ-50 (mod.) and legacy cockpit and the other being the 19th aircraft onward with the AN/APQ-72 radar and redesigned cockpit. But my suggestion is for the 18th and earlier version (specifically BuNo 145313 as it can carry Sidewinders, BuNo 145310 could carry bombs but it’s not necessary) as if we were to add the later variant it’d be too similar to the F-4C and F-4B (which is more likely to be added) and makes it a bit less unique.

It carried an AAA-4 infrared search and tracking sensor, which was added in a prominent bulge underneath the radome. It was fitted (or retrofitted) from F4H-1F number 5 (143390) onward but could not rangefind on its own.

The key differences between the F-4A (1-18th production aircraft) and other F-4s are the following:

  • The cockpit has a different design, not bulging up unlike all other F-4s, leading to poorer visibility
  • The radome is more streamlined and less bulky compared to non RF- F-4 variants and the F-4E as it carried the AN/APQ-50 radar (the same as the F4D-1 but the njavm source says that it carried the -72 but with the -50’s smaller 24 inch reflector so maybe more of a FCS change? The radar was sometimes referred to as AN/APQ-50 (mod.))
  • The F-4A used an earlier, less powerful version of the J79 known as the J79-GE-2, weighing approximately 1824kg, producing 46.262kN on mil. power and 72.283kN with the afterburner on
  • The inlet ramp had a different design

Armament

4x (or 6x) AIM-7C/D, 4x AIM-9B, 22x 500lb bombs


The manual states that the F4H-1F could carry the AIM-7C/D Sparrow (named AAM-N-6 and AAM-N-6a respectively before redesignation) and the Sidewinder. The only Sidewinder available at that point was the -9B.

The only AIM-9 photo I found was a photo on the F-4A is from the present day, carrying a mockup AIM-9 on a LAU-7A pylon (from Platinum Fighters). However the manual states that the 7th (BuNo 145313), 12th production F-4A and up (BuNo 146817+, with redesigned cockpits and radar) had provisions for missiles on the wing stations, which aircraftinformation.com states could carry either 2 extra Sidewinders per pylon or an extra Sparrow per pylon.

I’ll also show you a 1962 manual for the F-4B, which came riiiiiight after the F-4A, which clearly also shows support for the AIM-9. Manual: https://www.scribd.com/document/771186418/F-4B-F4H-1-Flight-Manual-Volume-I-Amd-II (page 26)

BuNo 145310 (the ninth F4H-1F and the fourth production machine) was fitted with multiple bomb racks which enabled it to carry as many as 22 500-pound bombs underneath the fuselage and inner wing sections but this system was not adopted for production F-4As as it was meant as a fleet defence interceptor, but it could be added as an option if Gaijin is willing to frankenstein these two aircraft together as one.

Screenshot 2025-07-22 at 22-13-44 F4H-1F Early F4H-1F (photo credit unknown) pqgw Flickr

Screenshot 2025-07-22 221855

Problem: The F-4A never carried a gun. It could probably physically mount a gun pod like the USN Mk 4 Mod 0, carrying the mk 11 cannon as found on all other USN F-4s but it wouldn’t be able to fire it out of the box. However, if we take precedent and look at the IRIAF F-14’s R27R it could carry (but not guide) that’s in the game I think it also could be added.

If added should it be able to carry an ahistorical gun pod?
  • Yes
  • No
  • I don’t want the plane to be added
0 voters

images
(B43 nuclear bomb, I have some minor doubts that it might not actually be added, unbelievable, I know)

If added at what BR should it be at (WITHOUT gun pod)?
  • 8.3
  • 8.7
  • 9.0
  • 9.3
  • 9.7
  • 10.0 (same as the F-4C)
  • I don’t want the plane to be added
0 voters

If added what BR should it be at (WITH gun pod)?
  • 8.7
  • 9.0
  • 9.3
  • 9.7
  • 10.0 (same as the F-4C)
  • I don’t want the plane to be added
0 voters

How should it then be implemented?
  • Tech Tree
  • Premium
  • Event
  • Squadron vehicle
  • I don’t want the plane to be added
0 voters

vx-5 f-4a

In-game the plane would perform as a weaker F-4C, with less powerful engines and worse missiles.

If it doesn’t carry a gun pod it will be very limited in regards to its ability to engage targets, being capable of only engaging enemies from front/side aspect with the AIM-7 Sparrow, with a high minimum engagement distance. and from rear aspect with the AIM-9B, whose seeker has a very small FOV and can’t turn well, making most aircraft capable of outmanoeuvering it if they’re not going too slow.

The ideal playstyle would likely be to climb so that the radar can avoid ground clutter, allowing radar lock and AIM-7 firing, then firing AIM-9Bs at slow or unaware targets with an altitude advantage once there are no targets engageable with the Sparrow. Its shortcomings in its ability to engage other aircraft may be made up for by its speed, climb rate and TWR, especially with a lower BR compared to the F-4C.

If it does carry a gun pod it may be a force to be reckoned with. As long as you don’t get aircraft carrying high G-pull missiles behind you or you try to turnfight the F-4A will be sufficiently capable of engaging enemy aircraft, eliminating its main issue. As long as you know the aircraft’s limits and try to keep it fast expect success (if you’re a skilled pilot). You should expect a higher BR than the missile-only “version”, though.

“Fun” fact! The F4H-1F was renamed 2 times. It was first just called the F4H-1 but the intended engine version was not ready in time but when they were the ones with the older engine would retroactively be called the -1F, signalling an engine modification. Then it’d be renamed the F-4A and the variant with the later engine would be called the F-4B. That’s why the manual (1st source, has “F4H-1” in the title).

Sources:

McDonnell F4H-1F Flight Manual (Proper Copy) | PDF (page 13, 235) (May also be used as a source to figure out exact performance characteristics from graphs that I’m too tired/don’t have the time to figure out)
https://www.scribd.com/document/771186418/F-4B-F4H-1-Flight-Manual-Volume-I-Amd-II (page 26)
Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site
New Jersey Air Victory Museum | 2024 Official Site
[2.0] Phantom Variants
McDonnell F4H-1F Phantom II
Sources listed from the above source:

  • The World’s Fighting Planes, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.

  • McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Spirit in the Skies. Airtime Publishing, 1992.

  • Modern Air Combat, Bill Gunston and Mike Spick, Crescent, 1983.

  • The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  • United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  • The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  • The World Guide to Combat Planes, William Green, Macdonald, 1966.

Pictures shown

2 Likes

+1 seems cool